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Status and relevance of environmental issues for finance and business
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Do socially responsible firms walk the talk?
This study evaluates U.S. firms that signed the Business Roundtable's stakeholder capitalism pledge. Despite claims of social responsibility, signatories performed worse on environmental, labor, and governance metrics than peers, both before and after signing. The results suggest these public commitments lacked substance and may have been strategic signaling.
Renewable energy and Indigenous people
This paper outlines challenges and opportunities for Indigenous Australians in adopting renewable energy, emphasising successful partnerships with experienced developers. It stresses the importance of building knowledge and capability at various project scales and recommends support mechanisms to empower Indigenous communities in advancing their renewable energy projects.
Net zero integrity: Assessment of the net zero pledges of Australian companies
This report assesses the net zero pledges of ten Australian companies, highlighting a gap between current voluntary commitments and the requirements of global standards. None of the firms have a comprehensive, quantified, and independently verified plan for reducing emissions in line with a science-based pathway.
Market review of environmental impact claims of retail investment funds in Europe
This report explores the environmental impact claims made by European retail investment funds and assesses their accuracy and possible ramifications. Findings reveal a high prevalence of misleading claims and a need for better guidance and regulation to address the issue. Short and long-term recommendations are proposed.
Are corporate biodiversity commitments consistent with delivering ‘nature-positive’ outcomes? A review of ‘nature-positive’ definitions, company progress and challenges
This article examine the emerging trend of "nature-positive" in business and large corporations. The authors propose key criteria to distinguish 'nature-positive' approaches from previous iterations, analyse company sustainability reports, and examine progress from 2016 to 2021.
Impact investing in biodiversity conservation with bonds: An analysis of financial and environmental risk
This report examines the financial and environmental risks associated with impact investing in biodiversity conservation through bonds. It evaluates five case studies, analysing the projects' theories of change, potential risks, and mitigation strategies. The findings highlight complexities in achieving both financial returns and conservation impact, with concerns about vague metrics and project uncertainties.
Amazonia against the clock: Regional assessment on where and how to protect 80% by 2025
The report assesses the current state of the key priority areas in the Amazon and outlines the urgent actions that need to be taken to save the Amazon rainforest and mitigate climate change.
Systemic interventions for decarbonisation: The business perspective
This report advocates for a systemic approach to accelerate rapid decarbonisation, positioning innovative businesses to win from driving such an approach. The report evaluates the associated theoretical high-level insights in the case of the decarbonisation of the light road transport sector, proposing a set of principles for decarbonisation and mindset shifts for business innovators and incumbents.
The nature-based economy: How Australia’s prosperity depends on nature
This report highlights the link between nature and economic productivity in Australia. The report illustrates that approximately half of Australia’s GDP is directly dependent on specific ecosystem services derived from natural capital. The report sets out recommendations for action to halt and reverse the decline of nature in order to create a Nature Positive future.
Transparency, traceability and deforestation in the Ivorian cocoa supply chain
This report quantifies cocoa-driven deforestation in Côte d'Ivoire and assesses the traceability of the cocoa supply chain. Findings reveal that 46% of deforestation and forest degradation in the region over 2000-2019 was due to cocoa production. Only 43.6% of exports can be traced back to specific cooperatives and departments.
Materiality: The word that launched a thousand debates
This report explores the concept of materiality in the context of corporate sustainability disclosure. It discusses evolving definitions of materiality in the US and abroad, the need for a common language and structure for disclosure frameworks, and SASB's role in providing decision-useful and financially material information to investors and financial capital providers.
Super-powering the energy transition in Australia: A policy blueprint to facilitate superannuation investment
This policy blueprint advocates for a shift to renewable energy, proposing over A$40 billion annual investment. It highlights superannuation funds as potential long-term capital sources for the transition, addressing barriers and recommending clear policies to achieve ambitious sustainability goals across critical sectors for a more sustainable future.
Global assessment report on disaster risk reduction - our world at risk: Transforming governance for a resilient future
The report explores the challenges faced in managing systemic risk, the complexity of decision-making in volatile situations and offers solutions for improving risk communication.
Finance and climate change: A comprehensive climate assessment of the world’s largest financial institutions
An analysis of the top 30 global financial institutions exposes a notable absence of immediate action on climate change. While pledging net-zero targets by 2050, their plans lack focus and lack measurable short-term actions. Urgent reshaping of activities is imperative for these institutions to effectively transition to a net-zero future.
Angel networks in emerging markets: A guide for development institutions
This is a comprehensive and insightful guide for organisations seeking to engage with angel investors and support the development of entrepreneurship ecosystems in emerging markets. The report covers key topics such as the nature of angel investing, challenges facing angel networks, best practices and strategies, and practical tools for development institutions.
Stocktake of financial authorities’ experience in including physical and transition climate risks as part of their financial stability monitoring
This report examines the extent to which financial authorities consider climate-related risks in their financial stability monitoring and contains information on the channels that the authorities use to manage the risks and the quantification of climate-related risks to financial stability.